Innovation Education partnerships: Rice University hosted a visit of Olusola Oke, University of Ibadan, Nigeria Design Studio Assistant Manager Contributors: Carrie Noxon, Emily Bull, Ashley Taylor, and Nicole MorenoInvention Education improves lives through invention...
World Prematurity Day is an international day to raise awareness for babies who are born too soon. This year with partners around the world we highlighted Kangaroo Mother Care. Preterm birth continues to be the leading contributor to under-5 deaths globally, being responsible for almost half of all under-5 deaths in 2021. Immediate initiation of Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) has shown to significantly decrease newborn mortality. Skin-to-skin contact’s benefits includes improved thermal regulation, infection prevention, improved breast feeding, positive facilitation of physiological, behavioral, psychosocial, and neurodevelopment, and a reduced risk of neonatal mortality.
A summary of activities from quarter 3 and quarter 4 in each NEST360 country. Our teams have made incredible progress this year towards sustainability and institutionalizing NEST in small and sick newborn care.
Birth asphyxia, also known as Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIC), is one of Nigeria’s most common causes of neonatal mortality and morbidity. It is a condition that occurs when a baby does not get enough oxygen during birth. The limited flow of blood and oxygen to the brain and perhaps to other organs can lead to brain damage either during delivery or soon after birth; it can also lead to death.
According to the WHO, birth asphyxia accounts for an estimated 900,000 deaths of newborns globally. Birth asphyxia occurs in most secondary health facilities in Nigeria, including facilities supported by NEST360.
In February, Nigeria opened a Clinical Skills Lab at University College Hospital (UCH). The lab serves medical students, student nurses, doctors and nurses within UCH and other health workers from surrounding health facilities who are learning hands-on, comprehensive newborn care.
A plan to reduce Africa’s infant mortality fell short of winning the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation’s first $100 million competition. Then plan leaders took their show back on the road.
Baby Incubator Designed for Electrical Outages Wins University of Ibadan First Annual Design CompetitionContributor: Padraic CasserlyBaby Incubator Designed for Electrical Outages Wins University of Ibadan First Annual Design Competition The University of Ibadan (UI)...
Each November, countries across the globe come together for World Prematurity Day to call attention to the babies who were born too early and the immediate and long term health challenges they face; and to acknowledge their families and healthcare providers. Premature birth and its complications are the main cause of newborn deaths in the world. More than 1 in 10 infants are born prematurely, resulting in an estimated 15 million preterm births per year, and sub-Saharan Africa bears a disproportionate uneven high burden of these births. It has been further estimated that nearly one million preterm newborns die in sub-Saharan Africa each year, mostly from a lack of equity in healthcare resources to provide the needed interventions. The theme for this year’s celebration is, ‘Together for babies born too soon: caring for the future.’ This is still an urgent health crisis, made all the more challenging during the COVID-19 pandemic. We must raise awareness and not lose momentum toward achieving global goals for newborns.